NSW National Park and Wildlife Service staff have started preparing for this year’s whale migration season with annual whale disentanglement refresher training for specialist National Parks staff from Merimbula, Narooma, Ulladulla and Nowra.

The training was held on Tuesday, May 9 on Wagonga Inlet at Narooma with participants from NPWS, Department of Primary Industries and Roads and Maritime Services.

A National Parks spokesperson said the refresher training helped specialist National Parks staff safely assist any whales that might become entangled on their 10,000 kilometre return journey up and down the East Coast.

“Experts estimate that around 30,000 humpback whales alone will migrate north along the NSW coastline this year from around the end of May to head for warmer waters before returning in September and November with their newborn calves,” the spokesperson said.